Almond board releases water-management guide for CA growers

Under pressure because of their thirsty crop, almond growers have actually been working to save water for a long time. Now the Almond Board of California is offering a new manual called the Almond Irrigation Improvement Continuum to help them conserve in progressive steps.

Almonds are big business in California, generating $5.3 billion in revenue for farmers in 2015. They are the state’s second-largest farm product after dairy. But almonds also consume a lot of water.

When asked to explain the new guide the Almond Board made available to farmers, Cooper stated:

"The purpose is to accelerate grower adoption of research-based, commercially available and more water-efficient irrigation management and scheduling tools. This guide encourages continued improvement in a grower’s irrigation management strategies, addressing five essential elements."

"Those five key areas include: estimating orchard water requirements based on evapotranspiration; measuring irrigation system performance and efficiency; determining the water applied; evaluating soil moisture; and evaluating plant water status."

"The continuum has something to offer every almond grower, regardless of their irrigation management sophistication, and the entry-level management guidelines require zero capital investment. It re-establishes a foundation of irrigation management in touch with today’s farming conditions, and provides growers with the knowledge and tools to improve from there."

source: newsdeeply.com